"Nothing can be hidden from the old lady; my niece has taken a liking to a girl from the Xiao family..."
"I heard you once sought the hand of the eldest daughter of the Xiao family from their clan leader?"
Mrs. Zhao... Who says those who are devoted to Buddha ignore worldly affairs?
She is very well-informed.
"At the time, there was such an intention, but later I found that the Third Young Master was too boisterous. His temperament might not match with the Xiao family’s eldest daughter, so I gave up on that idea."
"Is Doctor Xiao’s granddaughter a calm and composed person?"
"Indeed, but the girl is still in mourning, so please keep it confidential, old madam."
"I understand," the old lady sighed, "Since it’s about Doctor Xiao, I will surely inform Lao Qi."
"Thank you, thank you very much, old madam."
Unexpectedly, it worked out!
Mrs. Zhao instantly felt very clever; seeking the old madam’s help in a roundabout way was indeed the wisest decision.
"There’s no need to thank me. It’s said that I’m also repaying Doctor Xiao’s kindness."
The old madam recalled the events from forty-eight years ago.
"Back then, I had been married to the Third Young Master for five years, and we were in love, yet we had no children. The old madam in the family wanted to take a concubine for the Third Young Master, and I cried every day. The Third Young Master vowed that he would never take a concubine, that I would be his only one in this life, or he would die an untimely death."
Mrs. Zhao was shocked; indeed, the Third Old Master met an untimely death in the end. Could it be because he took a concubine?
"I lost eight pounds in a month, and by the time my eldest sister came to see me, I was no longer myself."
"At that time, I really felt like dying, and I blamed myself for not being able to bear a child for the Third Young Master. Was it my fate to be childless?"
"My eldest sister told me that Old Doctor Xiao had returned home for family visits."
In Changzhou, there had always been legends about Old Doctor Xiao.
After all, Changzhou was such a small place, and he had served as the chief physician of the Imperial Hospital in the Capital, which was remarkable.
"Eldest Sister said all the neighbors knew that whenever Doctor Xiao returned, he would offer free medical consultations to the villagers. She urged me to have a look as well." The old madam recalled the time: "I had lost hope, but Eldest Sister insisted I go, saying there might be a chance since Old Doctor Xiao treated noble people in the palace. My little problem could certainly be cured."
"With the attitude of trying for a miracle, I went to seek a consultation with Old Doctor Xiao, accompanied by my eldest sister." The old madam recollected: "I remember the queue to see Old Doctor Xiao was very long. People brought their elderly and children, and it was said to be livelier than a temple fair."
"I waited for a full two hours before it was my turn. Old Doctor Xiao took my pulse, asked about some specifics, and finally said my husband should also be examined."
"I was shocked at the time. The matter of childbirth was naturally mine; how could it involve the Third Young Master? Could it be that Doctor Xiao thought it was the Third Young Master who couldn’t have children?"
"At one point, I thought Old Doctor Xiao was making things up. Eldest Sister persuaded me again, saying that as an Imperial Physician, he was experienced, and if he asked the Third Young Master to be examined, he must have his reasons." The old madam explained: "I had no choice but to seek out the Third Young Master, explain the whole situation, and he cooperated with me. We went to see Old Doctor Xiao again."
"As it turned out, the problem was indeed with the Third Young Master." The old madam recalled with lingering fear. After all the suffering and grievances tolerated from her mother-in-law, she never imagined that the issue would lie with the man.
"Later, Doctor Xiao prescribed three doses of medicine for the Third Young Master, and I remember the cost was not expensive, just about one tael of silver in total." The old madam said, "When we returned, the Third Young Master took the medicine according to Doctor Xiao’s instructions. Half a year later, I received the joyous news and later gave birth to Lao Qi."
Master Zhou Qi was the Seventh Young Master in the Zhou family, not the seventh son of the Third Madam.
"When Lao Qi was half a year old, the Third Young Master died unexpectedly." The Third Madam sighed, "Back then, I thought if not for meeting Doctor Xiao, I would have had no way to bear Lao Qi. After the Third Young Master met with misfortune, I would have truly become a widow without a single child to rely on, and life afterward would have been exceedingly difficult."
This is indeed the truth.
A widow with a child can focus her energy on the child, making the long nights of the rest of her life less unbearable.
"I’ve always remembered Old Doctor Xiao’s kindness. So, a large part of the Xiao family business is supported by Lao Qi." The old madam said, "It’s just that I did not expect such a thing to happen to Doctor Xiao. When his entire family of women and children returned to Shu City, they were bullied by the clan. I had Lao Qi stop their business."